A pilgrim from Punjab lost his life after a large boulder struck the SUV he was travelling in on the Chamba-Bharmour road in Himachal Pradesh early Wednesday morning.
The incident took place around 3 am near Mehla. Four friends from Punjab were heading towards Bharmour to take part in the Manimahesh pilgrimage when a boulder rolled down the hillside and hit their vehicle. The rock broke through the SUV's sunroof and struck one of the passengers.
The deceased has been identified as 40-year-old Makhan Singh from Maliyan village in Punjab's Hoshiarpur district. He suffered serious injuries in the accident and was taken to Pt Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College and Hospital in Chamba, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Police said the three other people travelling in the SUV escaped without any injuries.
After being informed about the accident, police and local administration officials reached the site. The body was sent for post-mortem, and legal formalities have been initiated. The victim's family has also been notified.
The tragedy comes at a time when thousands of devotees are travelling to the sacred Manimahesh shrine for the annual yatra. The Chamba-Bharmour road, which serves as the main route to the shrine, is known to be vulnerable to landslides and falling rocks during the monsoon season.
Authorities have urged pilgrims and commuters to remain alert while travelling on mountain roads, particularly during bad weather and in areas prone to rockfalls. The incident highlights the dangers associated with monsoon travel in the Himalayan region, where landslides and falling boulders continue to pose a serious risk.
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